BIOGRAPHY
Mariachi Acero de Las Vegas’ 2018 concert series took director Erik Ramirez and its members to venues all across the United States. Mariachi Acero’s 2018 tour included performances in Chicago, Los Angeles, Reno, Milwaukee, and of course, Las Vegas, Nevada. Mariachi Acero performed at the 2018 Chicago Mariachi Festival at the Jay Pritzker Pavillion at Millennium Park this past June, before an audience of 25,000 Mariachi aficionados. Mariachi Acero de Las Vegas has shared the stage with the greatest Mariachi ensembles in the world including Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlan, Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez, and Mariachi Los Camperos. They have also had the pleasure of accompanying top Latino artists such as Emmanuel, Jenni Rivera, Angeles Ochoa, Lorenzo de Monteclaro, Pancho Barraza, Maribel Guardia, Los Temerarios, Pablo Montero, Gerardo Ortiz, Voz de Mando, and Banda Limon to name few.
Mariachi Acero de Las Vegas was founded in 2008 by Erik Ramirez. Mariachi Acero de Las Vegas received top accolades as 1st Place Grand National Champions at the 2012 and 2013 Mariachi Nationals hosted by Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez. They also went on to take 1st place at the 2014 Battle of the Mariachis at San Juan Capistrano Mission in California.
Erik Ramirez
Director/Founder
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Instruments: Violin, Trumpet, Guitarron, Vihuela, Guitar, Vocals
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Career: Music Educator for the Clark County School District, Music
consultant for Music Education Consultants, Co-author of Simplemente Mariachi method book
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High School: East Chicago Central High School (East Chicago, Indiana)
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Colleges attended: Vandercook College of Music, Purdue University Calumet, University of Nevada Las Vegas, College of Southern Nevada, University of Phoenix, Seattle Pacific University
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Start to music: 1990 Harrison Elementary School Orchestra (East Chicago, IN)
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Prior Mariachi Experience: Mariachi Acero de East Chicago (Director: Larry Lane), Mariachi Plata de Las Vegas (Director: Javier Trujillo), Mariachi Nuevo (Director: Michael Sital)
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Long term goal: Open a successful performing arts center and recording studio.
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Hobbies: Music production, live sound, aviation, astronomy, riding motorcycles, fabrication, basketball, baseball, soccer, football.
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Biggest challenge: Mastering whatever instrument is currently needed for Mariachi Acero de Las Vegas.
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Most memorable Acero moment: Performing in front of 25,000 Mariachi aficionados at the 2018 Chicago Mariachi Festival at Millennium Park.
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Favorite Mariachi Songs: All of them... El Son de La Negra, Tu Recuerdo y Yo, El Pasajero, El Mercader, El Derrotado, Gracias
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Nickname: E-rok, "E", Mister, Mister-Maestro, Eriberto
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Colleges attended: College of Southern Nevada (Majoring in music theory and violin performance)
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Start to music: 2006 JD Smith Middle School Mariachi (Las Vegas, NV)
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Prior Mariachi experience: Mariachi Los Bravos (Directors: Daniel Gonzalez, Thomas Garibay), Mariachi Oro de Rancho (Director: Roberto Lopez), Mariachi Los Charritos (Director: Xavier Gastellum)
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Long term goal: Establish a successful restaurant and music studio.
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Hobbies: Writing music, playing music, playing Fortnite
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Biggest challenge: Being patient at rehearsals and bringing my instrument to gigs.
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Most memorable Acero experience: Touring every year
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Favorite Mariachi song: Voy by Javier Solis
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Nickname: JJ, Junior, Toto, JJ-CO
Juanjose Cortez
Section leader/assistant director
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Instruments: Violin, Vocals
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Career: Music Educator for the Clark County School District, Full time student
High School: Rancho High School
(Las Vegas, Nevada)
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Jovanny Cortez
Instruments: Violin, Vocals
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Career: Full time student, freelance musician
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High School: West Prep Academy (Las Vegas, Nevada)
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Colleges attended: CSN
Start to music: 2010 JD Smith Middle School Mariachi (Las Vegas, NV)
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Prior Mariachi experience: Mariachi Los Bravos (Directors: Daniel Gonzales, Thomas Garibay) Mariachi Perla del Oeste (Directors: Fernando Aguilar, Erik Ramirez)
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Long term goal: Work for NASA as an aerospace engineer.
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Hobbies: Playing instruments, stargazing, sports, hanging out with my friends
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Biggest challenge: Memorizing the lyrics to La Dueña de Peru.
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Most memorable Acero experience: Going paintball shooting!
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Favorite Mariachi songs: Juan Chrrasqueado, Payaso, Aguas de Invierno
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Nickname: Geo, J-O-V-A-N-N-Y
Ignacio Zamora
Instruments: Violin, Vocals
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Career: Full time student, freelance musician, Clark County Firefighter
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Colleges attended: CSN
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High School: Las Vegas Academy (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Start to music: 2009 JD Smith Middle School Mariachi (Las Vegas, Nevada)
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Prior Mariachi experience: Mariachi Los Bravos (Directors: Daniel Gonzales, Thomas Garibay), Mariachi Internacional (Director: David Rivera)
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Long term goal: Become an EMT.
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Hobbies: Soccer, weight training
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Biggest challenge: ???
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Most memorable Acero experience: ???
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Favorite Mariachi songs: Motivos, De Que Manera te Olvido
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Nickname: Nacho, Nachito
Michael Leal
Instruments: Violin, vocals
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Career: Economics/math major
College attended: UNLV
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High school: Las Vegas Academy (Las Vegas, Nevada)
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Start to music: 2006 Bailey Middle School Mariachi (Las Vegas, NV)
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Prior Mariachi experience: Mariachi de Bailey (Director: Erik Ramirez), Mariachi Internacional (Director: Michael Sital)
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Long term goal: PhD in economics to teach and conduct university research.
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Hobbies: Poker, watching sports, making beer, research
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Biggest challenge: ???
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Most memorable Acero experience: Winning 1st place at the Mariachi Nationals.
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Favorite Mariachi songs: Anything Juan Gabriel
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Nickname: Mike
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Hector Flores
Instruments: Trumpet
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Career: Student
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College attended: Planning to attend EMT School
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High school: Las Vegas Academy (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Start to music: 2014 Brinley Middle School Band (Las Vegas, NV)
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Prior Mariachi experience: Mariachi Internacional (Director: David Rivera), Mariachi Herencia de Las Vegas (Director: Manuel Gomez)
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Long term goal: To promote Mariachi music and become a music instructor, career in the medical field.
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Hobbies: Playing music, dancing, volunteering at the hospital
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Biggest challenge: Not falling when dancing the Caballo Dorado!
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Most memorable Acero experience: Performing at Cielito Lindo Restaurant on Cinco de Mayo.
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Favorite Mariachi songs: Las Rejas No Matan, Se Te Olvida, Abrazame Muy Fuerte
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Nickname: ???
Yayre Ramirez
Instruments: Arpa, Vocals
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Career: Student
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College attended: planning to attend University of Nevada Reno
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High school: Rancho High School (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Start to music: 2013 Monaco Middle School Mariachi (Las Vegas, NV)
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Prior Mariachi experience: Mariachi Los Gavilanes (Directors: Ramiro Benavides, Yvette Sital, Daniel Valdez) Mariachi Oro de Rancho (Director: Roberto Lopez)
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Long term goal: Become a veterinarian.
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Hobbies: Traveling and roller skating
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Biggest challenge: Living without Dutch Brothers and Starbucks!
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Most memorable Acero experience: Watching the Canelo Alvarez fight with Los Camperos in Milwaukee.
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Favorite Mariachi songs: Mariachi Sol de Mexico's Mexico Lindo y Jarocho
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Nickname: Yay-Ray, Gary, Gary-analyze
Brandon Camacho
Instruments: Guitarron, Vocals
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Career: Painter
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College attended: Plan to attend the Las Vegas Metro Police Academy
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High school: Sunrise Mountain High School (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Start to music: 2007 Von Tobel Middle School Mariachi (Las Vegas, NV)
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Prior Mariachi experience: Mariachi Los Tigres (Director: Xavier Gastellum)
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Long term goal: Become a police officer for Las Vegas Metro.
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Hobbies: Hiking, going out with friends, playing guitar
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Biggest challenge: ???
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Most memorable Acero experience: Winning back to back grand championships at the Mariachi Nationals.
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Favorite Mariachi songs: Ella Volvio, Alma de Acero, La Diferencia, Matalas
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Nickname: Brian, Brando, Brando Jenkins
Benito Pineda
Instruments: Vihuela
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Career: ???
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College attended:
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High school: Rancho High School (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Start to music: JD Smith Middle School (Las Vegas, NV)
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Prior Mariachi experience: Mariachi Los Bravos (Directors: Daniel Gonzales, Thomas Garibay), Mariachi Oro de Rancho (Director: Roberto Lopez), Mariachi Azteca (Director: Fernando Aguilar)
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Long term goal: ???
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Hobbies: ???
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Biggest challenge: ???
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Most memorable Acero experience: ???
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Favorite Mariachi sonsgs: ???
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Nickname: Benitz, Benizzio
Edgar Gallegos
Instruments: Guitar, vihuela
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Career: Musical INstructional Aide for Clack County School District
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Colleges attended: College of Southern Nevada (Aviation/music major), UNLV
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High school: Valley High School (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Start to music: 2005 K.O. Knudson Middle School Mariachi (Las Vegas, NV)​
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Prior Mariachi experience: Mariachi Los Pumas (Director: Michael Sital), Mariachi del Valle (Director: Noe Ramos)
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Long term goal: Become a music educator, commercial pilot for an international airline.
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Hobbies: Aviation, hiking, mountain biking, reading
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Biggest challenge: ???
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Most memorable Acero experience: playing in Newport Beach with Maestro Jose Hernandez and Tony Zuniga.
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Favorite Mariachi songs: El Torero, El Gato Montes, Viva Autlan, Silverio Perez, El Raton, El Pasajero
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Nickname: Casper, Casperin, Casperino